Eyecup



March 3 1942 E. J. LEO'NARb 2,278,326

EYE CUP Filed April 16, 1941 INVENTOR Patented Mar. 31, 1 942 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE I EYECUP Edward .1. Leonard, Derby, Conn,

Application April 16, 1941, Serial No. 388,743:

(cures-249) 3 Claims.

This invention relates to an eye'cup, and has for an object to providean eye cup for individual use so that it may be kept sanitary, includingan outer container or support of metal or some molded material which isrelatively rigid and an inner cup of paper or other suitable materialwhich is much less rigid, or more or less flexible, to be. supported bythe container and to be discarded after use.

It is also an object to provide a construction in which a wall of thecup or insert can be compressed or flexed to force the solution in thecup into the eye to cause a certain amount of circulation or movement ofthe solution or medicament to give a better cleaning and medicinaleffect.

With the foregoing and other objects in view I have devised theconstruction illustrated in the accompanying drawing forming a part ofthis specification. It is, however, to be understood that I am notlimited to the specific details and arrangement shown, but may employvarious changes and modifications within the scope of the invention.

In this drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the cup complete with parts broken away tomore clearly show the construction;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section thereof; and s Fig. 4 is a sideelevation of the outer container looking from the opposite side of Fig.1 and from the right of Fig. 3.

My improved eye cup comprises an outer container or support 5 of metalor some molded material, such for example as the moldable plastics whichare now generally available on the market, and an inner or insert cup 6,preferably of paper or similar material. The cup 6 while sufficientlystiff to retain the solution, is also sufficiently flexible to becompressed or flexed to force the solution into the eye and cause'acertain amount of circulation or movement of the solution in the eye togive a better cleaning and medicinal effect. The paper insertcup if usedalone would not be sufficiently stiff or rigid to be pressed and heldagainst the surface of the skin about the eye sufficiently tight toretain the liquidor keep it from leaking out. It would also soon softenup, rendering it still less capable of maintaining the tight fit, withthe result that the solution would be apt to be spilled over the usersclothes and also cause loss of liquid. However with the combination thepaper cup insert is seated in the cavity in the similarly shaped outercontainer 5, and the sides of the cup 6 are carried above the top. edge1 of the container or support, but the side walls of the container. arecarried high enough to support the sides of the cup, and particularly tosupport them adjacent the rim of the cup so that the orbit conformingrim or edges 8 of the cup can be pressed and held against the surfacesof the skin about the eye to maintain a tight fit during the use of thecup.

However the top edge 1 of the container need not be so nearly conformingas is the edge or rim 8 of the cup, but the opposite end portions 9 arepreferably carried higher or nearer to the rim 8 of the cup than are theintermediate or side portions l0 so'as to give greater support at theopposite ends of the cup where there is the greater pressure on theedges or the rim of the cup due to the adjacent bony portions about theeye socket than at the intermediate side portions. The rim or the edgeof the cup is folded or rolled over as indicated to provide greaterstrength or stiffness, and also to increase the width of the contactingsurface on the skin to prevent injury or cutting of the skin. The rim 1of the container may also be rolled over to give greater strength andstiffness and better support the sides of the cup.

To permit forcing of the liquid into the eye and to cause movement orcirculation of this liquid one wall of the container 5, preferably oneof the side walls, is provided with an opening H for insertion of athumb or finger of the user. As shown in Fig. 3 a thumb I2 is shownpressed againsta side wall of the cup- 6, and it will be evident that bypressing this side wall inwardly, which action is permitted by theflexibility of the cup, the liquid in the cup may be forced into theeye, and also by inward and outward movement of the wall of the cup,liquid by the resulting kneading or pumping motion of the cup is forcedagainst the cornea and eyelids, giving a certain amount of motion andcirculation to this liquid. As previously noted, during this action thecup is supported by the rigid container and support 5, and during theirrigation of the parts of the orbit with which the liquid is in contactit maintains a tight contact about the rim of the cup preventing leakageor loss of liquid. The effect of the solution is also enhanced by thepressure and the movement or circulation. The

arrangement and shape of the container besides supporting the cupaffords a good grip on the container during the action on the cup, andthis may be improved by providing one or more depressions or recesses l3in the side wall of the container opposite that having the opening I Ito form seats for the ends of one or more fingers of the hand. Thuspressure of the thumb on the cup creates pressure on the liquid contentsaifording a more thorough irrigation of the cornea, lids and other partsof the orbital tissues. After use the paper cup or cup of other suitablematerial, is thrown away, maintaining the container sanitary for use byothers.

Having thus set forth the nature of my invention what I claim is:

1. An eye cup comprising a paper insert cup having a flexible rim curvedto fit the orbit of the eye of the user, and an outer container andsupport for the cup of the same general shape to receive and hold thecup and having side walls at the outer sides of the cup extending to aposition adjacent to but spaced from the edges of the cup to supportthem when pressed against the surface of the skin about the eye.

2. An eye cup comprising a flexible insert cup having a rim curved tofit the orbit of the eye 7 of the user, and an outer more rigidcontainer and support to receive and hold the cup having supporting sidewalls extending to a position spaced below but adjacent the rim of thecup to support said rim when pressed against the surface of the skinabout the eye, and one of the walls of the container having an openingfor passage of the thumb or a finger of the user to compress a wall ofthe cup to circulate liquid into the eye.

3. An eye cup comprising a paper insert cup having a flexible rim curvedto fit the orbit of the eye of the user, an outer more rigid containerand support for the cup having a cavity for the cup to seat in, and sidewalls extending to a position spaced below but adjacent the rim of thecup to support the cup when pressed against the surface .of the skinabout the eye, and one of the side walls of the container having adepression in its outer surface forming a finger grip and the oppositeside wall having an opening permitting entrance of a thumb of the userto press inwardly a wall of the cup to force and circulate liquid fromthe cup into the eye.

EDWARD J. LEONARD.

